Source New Mexico: NM U.S. Senators Heinrich, Luján call on Forest Service to account for wildfire prevention decline

United States senators from New Mexico joined Democratic colleagues this week in calling on the federal Forest Service to account for a reported steep decline in wildfire prevention measures, including forest thinning and prescribed burns, in New Mexico and other states during President Donald Trump’s second term.
U.S. Sens. Ben Ray Luján and Martin Heinrich sent a letter Dec. 2 to Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz along with 10 other senators, calling on Schultz to “provide clear answers” about the Forest Service’s staffing to reduce wildfire risk across the West.
The letter cited ananalysisof publicly available data from Grassroots Wildland Firefighters finding a 38% decrease in the removal of hazardous fuels as of September 2025 when compared with the same period over the last four years.
Between 2021 and 2024, the Forest Service completed hazardous fuel projects covering 3.6 million acres a year, according to the analysis. In the first nine months of 2025, the group found that the Forest Service treated less than 1.7 million acres.
“The steep decline in hazardous fuels reduction efforts on Forest Service lands poses a serious risk to public safety, public health, and the economy,” the senators wrote. “It is imperative that the Forest Service works closely with Congress to address shortfalls in wildfire mitigation and ensure staffing and budgetary resources are sufficient to fulfill the agency’s mission.”
The letter says Schultz previously provided misleading answers in response to criticism about his agency’s wildfire prevention efforts, including counting work done during President Joe Biden’s term as evidence that the agency was adequately staffed. But that data included staffing figures from before Trump’s “mass staff firings, forced retirements, and unnecessary pauses on projects,” the letter states.
In New Mexico, the analysis found wildfire prevention efforts are down by53% sincePresident Donald Trump took office in January.
The letter ends with a list of questions to Schultz about where staffing currently stands and what his plans are to address the “current wildfire risk environment.” It also asks for updated numbers on treated acres, how many such projects were delayed this year, and for quarterly updates on progress going forward.
It also asks for Schultz to respond to the letter by Dec. 12.
In the meantime, New Mexico’s five national forests have announced prescribed burns beginning this week or last. That includes pile burns in theCarson,LincolnandSanta Fenational forests, as well as other prescribed burns in theGilaandCibola.